New Islands Formed in the Past 20 Years

Tugtuligssup Sarqardlerssuua

Over the past 60 years, the Steenstrup Glacier in northwest Greenland has retreated more than six miles, partly due to climate change. The melt has uncovered several new islands, the most recent in 2014, according to the American Geophysical Union. Researchers believe the island — named for the mountain called Tugtuligssup Sarqardlerssuua that sits atop it — may have helped anchor the glacier in place. Now that it's free, Steenstrup could retreat even faster, generating more islands and further transforming Greenland's coast.